Choosing the Right Dog
Can meeting dogs make you dog-drunk? Are puppies really blank slates that can be molded to fit your family? Can an old dog learn new tricks? What questions should you ask yourself before adopting? And, of course, where the hell should you go to get a dog?
Crystal returns to compare dog adoption to speed dating and pawn her Halloween candy off on Jess Wilson in this episode where we finish our discussion on how to find the best dog for your family.
Things to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
What do you hope to do with your dog and how much energy is required to do those things? Do you want an energetic agility competitor? A moderately active jogging buddy? Or are you hoping for a low key couch potato to come home to after a long day of work? What kind of fur are you willing to tend to? There’s no such thing as a dog who doesn’t shed. There are light shedders and heavy shedders, seasonal shedders, and year-round shedders. Coats that are more like hair typically shed less, but if you think those coats aren’t going to be at least as much work as a typical sheddy dog, you may be surprised. Generally speaking, what you lose in dust and shedding, you’ll make up for in grooming needs. And that’s not just taking a dog to the groomer. Daily brushing is mandatory for a lot of hairy and curly-coated dogs. So is picking leaves, sticks, burs, mud, and poop out of their coats. If you love floof go for it! But be aware of what you’re signing up for.If you’re concerned about allergies and think a doodle will do the trick–consider that our allergies are usually related to a dog’s saliva and urine, not fur. Since dogs lick themselves to bath, your allergies might do better around smooth, low-maintenance dog fur that is easy to wipe down. Also, a lot of poodle mixes still shed a lot because the poodle coat doesn’t always win the genetic lottery.How much poop and pee do you want to deal with on a daily basis and for how long? If you’re signing up for a dog, you’re signing up for tracking your dog’s current health status through the state of their waste. The consistency and contents will matter because, if Muffin eats a toy, you’re going to want to know that it passed through okay. If Muffin gets diarrhea, you’re going to want to keep an eye on her and make sure she stays hydrated. And if there are worms or blood in it, off to vet you go. Poop is important and you will find yourself discussing it, scooping it, and even collecting it for the vet. Obviously, big dogs have big poop. But there’s a trade-off for those tiny Yorkie poops too. It’s true that some small dogs take longer to potty train. That’s not to say that you can’t potty train a little dog, or that some big dogs aren’t tough too. But that doesn’t change the simple biological fact that tiny dog bladders and digestive tracts are smaller and can be a little harder to regulate. On average, it takes 3 months (from the time they enter a new home) to fully potty train a BIG dog to the point of trustworthiness. Double that for little dogs and extend it in cases where the dog has an established history of accidents. What dog can you afford? No dog is cheap, not even a free one. The average pet owner spends $129/month on their dog and many would argue that this is a bargain! Estimate 2-3 times that in the first few months for equipment, supplies, and medical needs. Remember, some dogs need regular grooming, while others might need more expensive chew-proof toys or special training equipment. Dogs get sick too. Expect at least one round of kennel cough (AKA: bordetella) in the first year, especially if you frequent the park. This is the common cold for dogs. Yes, there is a vaccination for it and yes, your dog will probably get it at least once anyway because viruses mutate from year to year. If a dog with special needs catches your eye, great! These guys deserve the best! But ma
